Ticker: Analyst predicts Big Ten shutout in first round of NFL draft

April 22, 2013

By Brian Manzullo

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

The Big Ten has landed a player in the first round of the NFL draft every year since 1953.

That could change Thursday, according to CBS Sports' Dane Brugler, who made five bold predictions for this weekend's festivities.

Brugler says just as the SEC has given the Big Ten its lumps on the field, a similar pattern is starting to form in the NFL draft. Many SEC players are projected to be selected in the first round. The Big Ten? Not so much.

"A pair of defensive tackles, Johnathan Hankins (Ohio State) and Kawann Short (Purdue), are the best hope for the conference to be represented in the first round, but both are more likely to come off the board in the second round," Brugler writes. "The Big Ten will be well-represented on the second and third days of the draft, but the first round will be quiet for one of college football's most traditional conferences."

Kobe live-tweeting

Kobe Bryant: NBA Twitter analyst?

Since the Los Angeles Lakers' star can't help his team this postseason as he recovers from a torn Achilles, he has taken to social media to analyze and root for his team against the San Antonio Spurs.

A sample from Sunday's Game 1:

• 3:36 p.m.: "I like how Nash is moving so far. Both teams a lil out of rhythm to start"

• 3:49: "Gotta keep the spurs offense in front of our d. They r great at penetrating and pitching to their shooters"

• 4:03: "What I would say if I was there right now? "Pau get ur ass on the block and don't move till u get it" #realtalk"

• 5:02: "This game has a "steal one" written all over it for us"

Unfortunately for the Lakers, they didn't "steal one." They lost, 91-79.

Quick hits

• A YouTube encore coming soon for Michigan guard Nik Stauskas? A tweet from Sunday: "And for the record, you can definitely expect some sort of youtube video in the backyard when I'm back home lol! #BackAtIt"

• Remember when 7-year-old cancer patient Jack Hoffman scored a touchdown in Nebraska's spring game two weeks ago? Eight-year-old cancer patient Noah Roberts did the same in East Carolina's spring game Saturday. Find the video on YouTube.

Final words

In addressing the crowd Saturday at Boston's Fenway Park, one day after a day-long manhunt for a Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz used a certain profane adjective when saying "This is our city." The FCC later tweeted: "David Ortiz spoke from the heart at today's Red Sox game. I stand with Big Papi and the people of Boston -- Julius." Good call.